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Lee Rigby's killers jailed for life

One of the Muslim fanatics who murdered soldier Lee Rigby has been sentenced to die behind bars and the other jailed for at least 45 years for the horrifying killing.

Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale were sentenced at the Old Bailey by Mr Justice Sweeney, who had waited for a key appeal court ruling on whole life terms before deciding the men's fate.

Adebolajo, aged 29, was given a whole life term while Adebowale, aged 22, was jailed for life with a minimum of 45 years.

The British-born extremists mowed Fusilier Rigby down in a car before hacking him to death in the street in front of horrified onlookers near Woolwich Barracks in south east London in May last year.

They both claimed that they were "soldiers of Allah" and were motivated by the plight of Muslims abroad to carry out the killing, and have shown no remorse.

After sentencing began the two men shouted at Mr Justice Sweeney in protest at his remarks and were pinned to the ground by several security guards and taken back to the cells.

Mr Justice Sweeney was forced to sentence the men in their absence after they were bundled out of the courtroom following their violent outburst.

Fusilier Rigby's family sobbed as the killers shouted across the historic courtroom, with Adebolajo shouting Allahu Akbhar, and Adebowale calling out "that's a lie" and "it's not a betrayal of Islam" as the judge told them they had been radicalised.

The judge said the pair's behaviour was "sickening and pitiless", and that Adebolajo had no hope of rehabilitation.

"Your sickening and pitiless conduct was in stark contrast to the compassion and bravery shown by the various women at the scene who tended to Lee Rigby's body and challenged what you had done and said."

The struggle in the dock was triggered when the killers, both wearing Islamic robes, reacted angrily to comments that Mr Justice Sweeney made about their extremist beliefs.

He told them: "You each converted to Islam some years ago. Thereafter you were radicalised and each became an extremist, espousing views which, as has been said elsewhere, are a betrayal of Islam."

Adebowale protested that this was a lie, ranting about America and Britain, and his accomplice joined in, screaming "allahu akbar" and hurling abuse at the prison guards who grappled him to the ground.

Both men were grabbed around the face as guards struggled to control them, and taken down to the cells.

The soldier's family were visibly distressed, and one relative needed medical treatment.

The judge made sure that the family were OK before starting his sentencing remarks again.

He said that the murder also betrayed "the peaceful Muslim communities who give so much to our country", and that the men had carried out the killing to show "your extremist views, to murder a soldier in public in broad daylight and to do so in a way that would generate maximum media coverage including getting yourselves killed by armed officers who were bound to arrive at the scene".

Describing how the pair mowed the 25-year-old down at 30-40mph, he said: "He had done absolutely nothing to deserve what you went on to do to him."

Mr Justice Sweeney added: "It is no exaggeration to say that what the two of you did resulted in a bloodbath."

Adebolajo tried to behead the soldier while Adebowale stabbed him in the chest.

"You both gloried in what you had done," the judge told the court, and said it had a "severe and lasting impact" on his loved ones.

There were also dramatic scenes outside the Old Bailey as roads near the court were closed and members of the public shouted at prison vans leaving the building.

A number of far right protesters had remained outside the court all day, with two sets of gallows, calling for the killers to face the death penalty.

Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, who heads Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command, said: "Today's sentence reflects the true horror of their actions in taking this young man's life in such a barbaric way.

"Our thoughts remain with Lee's loved ones, who have shown dignity and strength throughout the judicial process."

Sue Hemming, head of special crime and counter terrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service, acknowledged that the soldier's family had found the whole court process distressing.

She said: "Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale revelled in one of the most appalling terrorist murders I have seen whilst head of counter terrorism at the CPS.

"Not only was the attack brutal and calculated, it was also designed to advance extremist views. As a solider, Fusilier Lee Rigby was targeted in a clear act of revenge, deliberately carried out in full view of members of the public for maximum impact.

"Under the law, terrorism is committed by a defined act designed to influence a Government, the public or an NGO for the purpose of advancing a religious, political, ideological or racial cause. This attack was always going to fail in that purpose as it served only to bring people together in shock, sympathy and solidarity.

"In December, the two defendants were convicted of a savage murder. Following strong argument from the prosecution, they have today been sentenced for carrying out that murder during an act of terrorism.

"I know the court process has been particularly distressing for Lee Rigby's family. I hope they can take some small comfort from the sentences imposed today and can begin to move on."

Comments

sense2
8:15am Thu 27 Feb 14

The taxpayer now has the expense of keeping these individuals in prison. If this has to be the case then they should be in permanent solitary confinement with no use of anything and only given the minimum needed to survive.

The taxpayer now has the expense of keeping these individuals in prison. If this has to be the case then they should be in permanent solitary confinement with no use of anything and only given the minimum needed to survive.sense2

The taxpayer now has the expense of keeping these individuals in prison. If this has to be the case then they should be in permanent solitary confinement with no use of anything and only given the minimum needed to survive.

Score: 4

Yellow Hackle
9:20am Thu 27 Feb 14

We have all seen the verdicts given on the two guilty self styled terrorists for the despicable Murder of Fusilier Rigby and, in my mind “ Good verdicts “ seeing as how we don’t hang them anymore. I think for the sake of the family we should refrain from further comment about this whole sorry episode and give the family some peace & Quiet
After all its been plastered all over the place since it happened.
Fusilier Rigbys family will know that Lee will never be forgotten by any right minded
person, They have suffered enough!! God Bless em.
Let Lee rest in peace and, give his family the time to heal.
David Platt
Welfare & Liaison
Lancashire Fusiliers Website

We have all seen the verdicts given on the two guilty self styled terrorists for the despicable Murder of Fusilier Rigby and, in my mind “ Good verdicts “ seeing as how we don’t hang them anymore. I think for the sake of the family we should refrain from further comment about this whole sorry episode and give the family some peace & Quiet
After all its been plastered all over the place since it happened.
Fusilier Rigbys family will know that Lee will never be forgotten by any right minded
person, They have suffered enough!! God Bless em.
Let Lee rest in peace and, give his family the time to heal.
David Platt
Welfare & Liaison
Lancashire Fusiliers WebsiteYellow Hackle

We have all seen the verdicts given on the two guilty self styled terrorists for the despicable Murder of Fusilier Rigby and, in my mind “ Good verdicts “ seeing as how we don’t hang them anymore. I think for the sake of the family we should refrain from further comment about this whole sorry episode and give the family some peace & Quiet
After all its been plastered all over the place since it happened.
Fusilier Rigbys family will know that Lee will never be forgotten by any right minded
person, They have suffered enough!! God Bless em.
Let Lee rest in peace and, give his family the time to heal.
David Platt
Welfare & Liaison
Lancashire Fusiliers Website

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